On the beach of Stone Harbor, New Jersey, Marie was walking with her eight-year-old brother, Eden.
"Why does Mom have to go?" Eden asked again, with fear in his eyes.
"Mom's a 1 serving in the army reserve. When the army needs her, they call her up to take care of the wounded soldiers." Marie answered.
Dad had asked her to explain to Eden that Mom would 2 after the war. "You're older now, big girl. You 3."
No, Marie didn't understand. Being thirteen didn't bring her any less fear of Mom's 4. How could she convince her brother when she needed to make 5 believe it? She looked over her shoulder and saw Eden's 6 face. That troubled her. She didn't want her brother to go through the 7 of not knowing what was going on.
Wanting to make him 8, Marie suggested, "Let's try floating by the water's edge. Lie back." Slowly, Eden spread his body on top of the water. Marie lay back too, relaxed. When they stood up, Marie realized they were on the other side of the sea wall. 9 she began to lead the way back to the main beach.
"Now that you can float, stay beside me," Marie said, tripping in the water.
"OK," answered Eden.
Suddenly, Marie stumbled into a hole in the sand under water. She turned to warn Eden to be 10 but couldn't find him. There was a rip current! 11, she turned her eyes out to sea. There in turbulent waters was Eden. With no time to think, Marie dove into the water and swam with all her 12 to her brother and took hold of his arm.
"Stay on your back!" she shouted. They could 13 move, but Marie continued swimming with difficulty.
Finally, the pull of the water began to weaken. Mom and Dad were rushing 14 them as Marie dragged Eden out of the sea.
"Rip current." Marie told them. "I swept Eden out."
"It's OK," Mom said, wrapping Marie in her arms.
"Maybe that's 15 Mom serves. When others need help, someone has to step up and do it. Until Mom comes back, I'll be here to take care of Eden," Marie looked at her brother and said to herself.
